In the monthly series of Natyadhara, a play titled Nian(Fire) was staged here at the Bhanja Kala Mandap on Sunday. Fire, an inextricable element in life, if let uncontrolled, guts everything. There is also spark of fire inside the tender heart of everyone. And that fire, many a time, takes shape of revenge, as is shown in the play.
Saunri’s husband Kanhiru, an innocent villager of a village somewhere in Kandhamal district, dies in police encounter. Saunri works in NREGS sponsored job. With an intention to use Saunri in flesh trade, the contractor offers to marry her. Saunri rises to the bait. Only when she is taken to the town, she realizes the truth and manages to escape. She joins a Naxalite outfit to take revenge. And the play ends when she kills the contractor and the outfit head, a supporter of the contractor.
The play was presented in ‘Intimate Theatre’ style by the artists of Natyachatana. All the artists, particularly laxmi who acts as Saunri, are brilliant. The writer and director of the play is Subodh Patnaik. Subodh’s marked style of using bamboo made properties and stage design went well with the regular and new theatre lovers.
The play witnessed its tenth presentation here. Prior to this, the same play has successfully been staged in many festivals like Purva Ranga Festival at Kolkata, Assam’s International Theatre Festival and NSD’s Adi Bimba Theatre Festival.